The playoffs began with Becker beating Dassel-Cokato May 22, then losing to Willmar May 24. Becker beat Zimmerman later that day before beating Dassel-Cokato again this past Tuesday.

 

 

Tuesday, Becker traveled to Big Lake to take on Dassel-Cokato in an elimination game.  

 

With high winds and storms approaching, the girls attempted to make quick work of the Chargers.  After holding D-C scoreless in the top of the first, the Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the inning.  An RBI double by Haley Benda highlighted the outburst.  

 

The Chargers got on the board with a run in the second, but Becker answered with seven runs  to expand their lead.  Benda singled two more runs home and Avery Tamm hit a big double that moved the lead to 10-1.  

 

The rest of the game moved quickly as good defense for both teams led to three scoreless innings and a 12-3 Bulldog victory.  

 

Catrina Holm got the win on the mound, going all seven innings and allowing three runs on five hits.  She struck out 11 batters.  

 

Benda, Krista Paulsen, Tamm, Corrie Weise and Ellie Schwartz all had multiple hits in the game.

 

 

Following the win over D-C, Becker took on Rocori in another elimination game in Big Lake that same day.  The winner would then move on to the section championship against Willmar the next day.  

 

Things were looking very promising in the top of the first as Becker came out strong against the top seed.  Paulsen and Weise each singled to start the inning and Benda ripped a two-out double to left center scoring both runners.  Tamm followed with an RBI single and the Bulldogs had a 3-0 lead.  

 

The Spartans answered by loading the bases with two outs and were able to plate two runs on a wild pitch and a throwing error bringing the score to 3-2.

 

The game then turned into a battle of pitching and defense after Rocori tied it an inning later. Neither team was able to score during regulation, which sent the game to extra innings. 

 

The Spartans advanced a runner as far as third base in the bottom of the 11th, but Ellie Schwartz made a great play, throwing out the batter to send the game to the 12th.  

 

Jaida Johnson drew a leadoff walk and Jenna Kringler came on to run.  Paulsen laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Kringler to second, but once again the Spartan pitcher was able to get a pop-up and ground ball to get out of the inning.  

 

Back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the 12th put the Bulldogs in a jam, but Weise struck out the next two batters to ease some tension. Unfortunately, the next batter walked to load the bases and a wild pitch allowed the winning run to score.  

 

Weise was the hard luck loser despite pitching 11-2/3 innings and giving up four unearned runs.   She allowed 12 hits and walked three and struck out 12.

 

Paulsen, Weise, and Benda all had multiple hits in the game.  Schwartz made a few fabulous defense plays at shortstop to prevent Rocori from scoring earlier in the contest.

 

“It's always difficult to see seniors that have poured so much into the program play their final game as a Bulldog, but this group of six (Schwartz, Benda, Georgia Thom, Jamie Sommerdorf, Hannah Kolbinger and Payton Bernstrom)  should be proud of the leadership they showed during a tough spring sports season,” said Head Coach Jason Baune.